The typical owner-occupied home in Portsmouth is worth about $688,500, 71% above the New Hampshire median of $402,500 and 2.1 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $8,018 a year in property taxes, about 1.16% of their home's value, lower than the New Hampshire rate of 1.66%. The median household earns $106,219 a year, so the median home costs 6.5 times the median income (4.1 times for New Hampshire). 52% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 61% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Portsmouth at a glance
| Portsmouth | New Hampshire | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $688,500 | $402,500 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $8,018 | $6,667 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.16% | 1.66% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $106,219 | $99,031 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 52% | 73% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 61% | 62% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $2,952 | $2,367 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 20.8% | 21.9% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,869 | $1,491 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 30.1% | 29.4% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1959 | 1979 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 4.1% | 14.3% | 10.1% |
| Population | 22,545 | 1,394,868 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Portsmouth
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Portsmouth home of $688,500 with 20% down costs about $4,658 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $5,805, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $199,616 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 53% of the median Portsmouth household income of $106,219; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $366,000.
The median rent here is $1,869 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,789 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $137,700 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $550,800 |
| Principal and interest | $3,705 |
| Property taxes (1.16% a year) | $666 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $287 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $4,658 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $24,098 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $676,030 |
| Principal and interest | $4,548 |
| Property taxes (1.16% a year) | $666 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $287 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $305 |
| Total per month | $5,805 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Portsmouth
What is the median home value in Portsmouth?
About $688,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Portsmouth?
Homeowners pay a median $8,018 a year, which is about 1.16% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Portsmouth?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,658 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $199,616 a year.
More about Portsmouth
- Mortgage Refinance in Portsmouth
- Debt Relief in Portsmouth
- Home Equity Loans in Portsmouth
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data